Vacuum operated reciprocating motor



Filed Dec. 1967 TO R N EYS United States Patent 3,481,250 VACUUM OPERATED RECIPROCATING MOTOR Arthur G. Toby, 1378 44th Ave., San Francisco, Calif. 94122 Filed Dec. 8, 1967, Ser. No. 689,189 Int. Cl. F01l 21/02; F01c 9/00 US. Cl. 91-232 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In various applications, a benefit can be obtained by converting the energy of a moving stream of air into a mechanical motion; and more particularly, in accordance with the present invention, into a reciprocating mechanical motion. A typical example of a utilitarian pur pose for such a form of energy conversion would be a vacuum cleaner. In such as environment, the air stream is moved by a vacuum source so that dirt or the like may be picked up in the stream and deposited in a filter or the like. At the same time, the suction created by the moving air stream may be utilized to impart reciprocating movement to a mechanical agitator which may assist in the loosening of dirt from an article being cleaned so that the dirt may more readily enter the air stream.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the teachings of this invention, I have provided a vacuum operated motor in which a vane member is disposed in a chamber in the flow path of the moving stream of air. The chamber and vane are so constructed that the vane moves back and forth across the suction opening to the chamber, repeatedly opening and closing the chamber in a valve-like manner. The motion of the vane is preferably transferred to another member for reasons which will be hereinafter described in more detail. Where this system is used in a vacuum cleaner, the agitator would consist of a suitable rug engaging member to assist in machanically separating dirt from the rug or other article being cleaned. It should be understood, however, that the vane movement can be transferred to numerous other devices, such as a saw, a file, or the like. This would likewise result in shavings, chips or filed particles being taken away in the very air stream which provided the energy and power for their creation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner attachment construction in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURES 3, 4, 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views, similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrate the nature of the vane movement.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of construction.

3,481,250 Patented Dec. 2, 1969 ice DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS For purpose of explanation, the motor of the present invention is illustrated in a vacuum cleaner environment, and reference is first made to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawing. As here shown, the apparatus, in its broad terms, includes a housing 12, a conduit 13 adapted to be connected to a vacuum source, a vane 14 disposed in the housing, and a vane actuated agitator 16. The housing is of generally rectangular cross-sectional form, and extending along the length thereof is a chamber 17 in which the vane 14 is positioned. The chamber in crosssection has an hour glass shape with upper divergent walls 21 and 22 and lower divergent walls 23 and 24, with a restricted curved throat portion 26 at the juncture of the walls. The lower chamber portion communicates with an enlarged rectangular passage 27 defined by a peripheral skirt 28 on the lower portion of the housing, and a wall 29 in spaced relation to the lower edge of the skirt.

The upper chamber walls terminate in an arcuate top wall 31 which is provided with a restricted passage 32 leading to a duct 33 in communication with vacuum conduit 13.It will also be noted that the lower edge portions of skirt 28 may be provided with a plurality of openings 36, so that when the housing 12 is supported on a rug of such compact nature or the like that no air can be drawn through it, a vacuum induced in conduit 13 will pull in suificient air through such openings, through passage 27 and chamber 17, and thence out through duct 33 to continue the action of the motor. It is this moving air stream that causes the vane 14 to oscillate in a manner now to be described.

Vane 14 is a generally flat rectangular element extending for the greater portion of the length of the chamber 17 and formed preferably of hard rubber. The upper portion of the vane, i.e., the portion adjacent to the top wall 31 may be slightly thicker than the lower portion thereof, and the ends of the vane are slightly spaced from the end walls 38 of the housing so as to permit freedom of vane movement within the housing.

The vane action can best be described by viewing FIGURES 2 through 7 of the drawings. For explanatory purposes, let it be assumed that the vane is positioned as illustrated in FIGURE 2, i.e., laying against wall 21 of the chamber. As suction is applied, the lower end of the vane will move towards wall 24 as shown in FIGURE 3, acting as a valve in momentarily closing communication between passage 27 and duct 33. The pressure unbalance, however, will cause the upper end of the valve to pivot towards wall 22, as shown in FIGURE 4, and then move to a position lying against such wall, as shown in FIG- URE 5, and finally to the closed position shown in FIG- URE 6. This latter position corresponds to the position of the vane shown in FIGURE 3, but against the opposite wall. The cycle of course repeates itself, and irrespective of the starting position of the vane, the cycle is continuously and rapidly repeated when the conduit 13 is connected to a vacuum source. It will be understood that movement of the vane past the passage 32. is caused by inertia.

In order to contain the moving vane in position and to utilize its movement as a power source, the agitator 16 is utilized. Agitator 16 consists of a flat plate 41 extending for substantially the greater length of the housing between the end walls 38 thereof with a central slot 42 of slightly lesser width than the width of chamber 17 at the lower end thereof. The plate is held for sliding movement against wall 29 by means of pins 43 extending through the housing skirt and preventing downward dislocation of the plate while permitting sliding movement thereof. On opposite sides of slot 42 the plate is bent upwardly in the form of convergent wings 44 and 46 between which the lower end portion of vane 14 is disposed.

In this manner, movement of the vane as previously explained will result in the vane successively engaging wings 44 and 46, moving the plate from side to side between the opposed skirt walls. Such. motion causes the wing 44 to successively engage and move away from chamber wall 23, and wing 46 to successively engage and move away from wall 24. For this reason, the wings are bent at substantially the same convergent angle as the angle of divergence of walls 23 and 24.

Agitator plate 41 may be provided with a central depending brush or scraper 51 which is likewise oscillated and which may serve to disengage dirt from a carpet or the like so that the latter may come under the influence of the air stream.

FIGURE 7 illustrates another vacuum air motor arrangement in which the chamber 17 communicates with duct 33 through a pair of restricted passages 61 and 62 in place of the single passage 32. In addition to the vane 14, a valve 63 is provided at its upper end which is curved to follow the curvature of top wall 31 with ears at each end to engage the upper edge portion of the vane. In this manner, as the vane oscillates in the chamber 17 as previously described, the valve 63 will be moved along the top wall and selectively open and close the passages 61 and 62.

In each of the above described embodiments, it is significant to note that the agitator is moved by the vane, but is not directly coupled to it. Thus, even if movement of the agitator is prevented, such as by engaging an immovable object, the vane can continue to oscillate, even though within a possibly restricted range. Also, it should be understood that when reference is made to the vane acting as a valve, it is really the vane in combination with the agitator which performs this function.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in the particular environment of a vacuum cleaner, it is readily apparent that any number of different tools, etc. could be actuated by the vane through an indirect coupling such as that illustrated.

What is claimed is:

1. A motor including a housing, said housing having a chamber therein, opposed air passage means communicating with said chamber and through which an air stream may be passed for creating an air flow across said chamber, a vane disposed in said chamber and having one portion adjacent one of said passages and another portion adjacent the other of said passages, said chamber having opposed transverse walls, the medial portions of which define a restricted throat and the other portions of which diverge with respect to each other, said vane being movable by the movement of said air to selectively close and open said chamber to the flow of air.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which one of said passages has a cross-sectional size smaller than that of said chamber.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said chamber has a substantial longitudinal extent and is provided with a curved wall interconnecting opposed end portions of said opposed walls, with said curved wall having a longitudinal passage of restricted size therein.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 in which a pair of said longitudinal passages are provided in said curved wall, and said vane is provided with a valve complementary to and adapted to slidably engage said curved wall and successively open and close said passages for vane movement in said chamber.

5. A device as set forth in claim 1 including a tool slidably supported in said housing and engageable with said vane for oscillating reciprocating generally planar movement.

6. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said chamber has a substantial longitudinal extent, and one of said passage means is provided in a top wall interconnecting upper end portions of said opposed walls, said vane having an upper edge portion engageable with said top wall.

7. A device as set forth in claim 6 in which a slotted member is provided with the lower edge portion of said vane being disposed within said slot, and means for substantially limiting movement of said member to a planar motion within said housing.

8. A device as set forth in claim 7 in which said member has divergent wings extending upwardly from opposed sides of said slot and adapted to engage said vane, said wings being selectively engageable with opposed wall portions as said member is moved by said vane.

9. A device as set forth in claim 8 in which said member is provided with a tool depending therefrom.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 118,867 9/1871 Mather 91-339 264,975 9/1882 Norden 91-339 285,271 9/1883 Jackson 91-339 527,072 10/1894 Pearce 91-339 1,639,043 8/1927 Malouf 91339 PAUL E. MASLOUSKY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

